Experiences with the clutch

For a while changing gear from first to second would rather often end up in neutral followed by that engine roar at 8k revs... you know the thing.However just recently found out that if I put a little pressure (up) when in first then upon pulling in the clutch the gears almost instantly and without any clonking (as it used to do) noise goes into second... what a joy.My question is as to whether this behaviour is a sign of something wearing or 'normalish'?

On my bike (and probably other peoples) you have to be very firm and positive to ensure you don't get stuck between 1st and 2nd gear. I've got used to it (it is a flaw of the gearbox - it shouldn't be like that, but a lot of bikes are similar) and it still occasionaly happens to me when I'm not paying sufficient attention.